National Parks Group Applauds Death Valley National Park for Setting New Standards with Wilderness and Backcountry Stewardship Plan

Statement by David Lamfrom, California Desert Senior Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association

Background:Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the continental United States. Its 3.1 million acres of designated wilderness alone comprise an area nearly a million acres larger than Yellowstone National Park. Death Valley National Park today announced its adoption of a wilderness plan, four years in the making. Death Valley released a Finding of No Significant Impact today, allowing the park to move forward in implementing its Wilderness and Backcountry Stewardship Plan.

“The National Parks Conservation Association commends the unprecedented, forward-thinking approach that Death Valley National Park followed in crafting its Wilderness and Backcountry Stewardship Plan. The park’s plan takes into consideration the natural and intrinsic values that attract its nearly one million annual visitors, such as open space and pristine night sky, as well as the solitude that many seek in the park’s deep quiet spaces.”

“The plan is unique in that the park has implemented a process for assessing, monitoring, and seeking to protect or improve wilderness character. Death Valley National Park involved desert communities and key stakeholders to find an innovative way to better understand and protect the vast wilderness resources in the park. This is the first plan I have seen that actively measures wilderness character and seeks to improve it – the results were well worth the wait.”

# # #

Want to learn more about the ?

The can be seen in the wild in America’s national parks. Why not join the National Parks Conservation Association community to protect and preserve our national parks?

Sign up to protect parks in & other states

Why not join the National Parks Conservation Association Community to protect and preserve our national parks?

Sign up to protect and other National Parks

Why not join the National Parks Conservation Association Community to protect and preserve our national parks?

Please leave this field empty

Yes, please sign me up for NPCA’s newsletter and other emails about protecting our national parks!